Weed cutter



F. J. BIRGE wEED CUTTER Eiled Feb. 2s,v 1957 Jan, 18, 1938.

Patented `an. 18, 1938 UNITED STATES WEED CUTTER Francis J. Birge,Seymour, Ind., assignor to Seymour Manufacturing Company, Incorporated,Seymour, Ind., a corporation of Delaware Application February Z6, 1937,Serial No. 127,866

2 Claims.

This instrument relates to hand instruments adapted for cutting weeds,grass, small shrubbery and vines, and for similar purposes. The objectof the invention is to provide an instrument for 5 this purpose whichshall be economical to construct, light in Weight and convenient inform, and which shall be strong and durable so as to withstand roughusage. The invention consists in certain features and elements ofconstruction in combination, as herein shown and described and asindicated by the claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a weed cutter embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a topi plan View of the blade, taken as a section, asindicated at line 3-3 on Figure 1 to show portions of theblade-supporting arms and their connecting ferrules.

Figure 4 is a detail section taken as indicated at line 4-4 on Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a detail section taken as indicated at line 5- 5 on Figure1.

'Ihis tool consists essentially of a blade, A, and .,5 a handle, B, bywhich the blade is swung in a generally horizontal direction for cuttingweeds, grass and the like. The blade is shown as a thin metallic memberof oblong shape having its two parallel edges, C and D, sharpened, andalso having a cutting edge, E, formed at one end. The handle member isbifurcated to form two arms, F and G, which diverge downwardly forattachment of their lower ends to the blade adjacent its opposite ends.Preferably, the arms, F and G, are integral parts of the handle, B,which may be metal or any suitable wood having the requisite strengthand resilience. Just above the point of divergence of the arms, F and G,the handle is provided with a reinforcing member, shown as a bolt orrivet, H, which extends through it in a direction to prevent the woodfrom splitting upwardly beyond the original point of bifurcation.

At their lower ends the arms, F and G, are fitted with metallic ferrulesor sockets, J and K, respectively, each of which is secured to its armby a bolt, L, extending through the arm and through the ferrule. Theferrule, J, is formed with a lug, M, and the ferrule, K, has a lug, N,said lugs being arranged to overlie the blade, A, and being providedwith securing bolts, O, by which the blade is detachably fastened inworking position.

It may be understood that to render the blade most effective it shouldbe supported in tension, and to provide this stress a brace or spreader,P,

extends between the arms, F and G, at a point intermediate thereinforcement, H, and the blade, A. The member, l?, is dimensioned sothat the arms, F and G, must be sprung and somewhat bent out of theirnormal straight form, thus providing the desired tension for holding theblade, A, straight and sufciently rigid to perform satisfactorily. 'I'hespreader, P, may be made of metal with its end portions bent at suitableangles to rest against the inner faces of the arms, F and G, and it maybe secured in place by suitable bolts, Q.

The handle member, B, may be made from round stock, with flattenedsides, B1, throughout the upper portion which serves as the hand grip.The bifurcation of the lower end of the handle thus leaves the arms, Fand G, of approximately semi-circular cross-section, as seen in Figure3, which makes them sunciently strong, but renders them flexible andresilient for the purpose of tensioning the blade, A, as just described.This construction also results in a frame of relatively light weight,thus conserving the strength of the workman instead of tiring himunnecessarily as he uses the tool. As seen in Figure 1, the hand gripportion of the handle, B, is inclined with respect to the plane of theblade, A, instead, of being strictly at right angles thereto, thuspermitting the workman to hold the blade in front of him withoutstooping uncomfortably; this requires the arm, F, to be somewhat longerthan the arm, G. For some purposes there is an advantage in having oneend of the blade sharpened, as shown at E, and, preferably, this is theend farthest from the workman.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structureembodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the artthat various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and thatthe same is not limited to the particular form herein shown anddescribed, except in so far as ind-icated by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In atool, the combination of a blade, a Wooden handle member madefrom rounded stock and bifurcated through a portion of its length toprovide a pair of resilient arms integral with the handle and each ofsubstantially semi-circular cross-section, said arms extendingdivergently toward opposite ends of the blade with a reinforcementapplied to the handle member adjacent the point at which said armsdiverge to oppose any tendency of said member to split beyond saidpoint, means securing the ends of the arms to the blade adjacent itsopposite ends respectively, and a spreader secured between the armsintermediate their ends and the point of bifurcation, eX- ing them apartand causing them to exert tension on the blade.

2. In a tool, the combination of a blade, a. Wooden handle member madefrom rounded stock and biiurcated through a part of its length, thusproviding a pair of resilient arms integral with 10 the handle andsemi-circular in cross-section,

